Abraham Lincoln, a History — Volume 02 eBook

Referring to annexation, he said our destiny had forced
us to acquire Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico,
and California. “We have now territory
enough, but how long will it be enough? One hive
is enough for one swarm of bees, but a new swarm comes
next year and a new hive is wanted.” Men
may say we shall never want anything more of Mexico,
but the time would come when we would be compelled
to take more. Central America was half-way to
California and on the direct road. The time will
come when our destiny, our institutions, our safety
will compel us to have it. “So it is,”
concluded he, “with the island of Cuba....
It is a matter of no consequence whether we want it
or not; we are compelled to take it, and we can’t
help it”.

[Sidenote] Douglas, New Orleans Speech,
Dec. 6, 1858. Pamphlet.

When Douglas reached New Orleans he substantially
repeated these declarations in another long speech,
and, as if he had not yet placed himself in entire
harmony with Southern opinion, he added a sentiment
almost as remarkable as the “mudsill” theory
of Hammond, or the later “cornerstone”
doctrine of Stephens: “It is a law of humanity,”
said he, “a law of civilization, that whenever
a man or a race of men show themselves incapable of
managing their own affairs, they must consent to be
governed by those who are capable of performing the
duty. It is on this principle that you establish
those institutions of charity for the support of the
blind, or the deaf and dumb, or the insane. In
accordance with this principle, I assert that the negro
race, under all circumstances, at all times, and in
all countries, has shown itself incapable of self-government.”

[Sidenote] Douglas, Baltimore Speech,
Jan. 5, 1859. Pamphlet.

Once more, in a speech at Baltimore, Douglas repeated
in substance what he had said at Memphis and New Orleans,
and then in the beginning of January, 1859, he reached
Washington and took his seat in the Senate. Here
he began to comprehend the action of the Democratic
caucus in deposing him from the chairmanship of the
Committee on Territories. His personal influence
and prestige among the Southern leaders were gone.
Neither his revived zeal for annexation, nor his advanced
views on the necessity for slave labor, restored his
good-fellowship with the extremists. Although,
pursuant to a recommendation in the annual message,
a measure was then pending in the Senate to place
thirty millions in the hands of President Buchanan
with which to negotiate for Cuba, the attitude of the
pro-slavery faction was not one of conciliation, but
of unrelenting opposition to him.